AYV News, October 24, 2025
The Sierra Leone Bar Association has joined the clarion call to combat the rampant proliferation and misuse of illicit drugs, particularly the substance commonly known as Kush, across the country.
The Association said this dangerous substance has infiltrated communities, schools, workplaces, and public spaces, wreaking havoc on the physical, mental, and social well-being of citizens, especially the youth.
The Bar Association said, “What was once a distant concern has now become a national emergency, with devastating consequences for families, public safety, economic productivity, and the very fabric of our society. Despite repeated warnings from health professionals, civil society organisations, and concerned citizens, the national response has remained fragmented, under-resourced, and largely reactive. The absence of a comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy to combat drug trafficking, abuse, and rehabilitation reflects a dangerous gap in our collective duty to protect the most vulnerable”.
The SLBA has called upon the Government of Sierra Leone to declare the drug crisis a national public health and security emergency, and to immediately develop and implement a holistic National Drug Control and Rehabilitation Strategy that integrates prevention, enforcement, treatment, and reintegration.
They have also called on thelaw enforcement and security agencies, including the Sierra Leone Police (particularly TOCU), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Armed Forces, to intensify intelligence-led operations against drug trafficking networks, while ensuring all actions comply with constitutional safeguards and due process.
In addition, the Association called on the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice to prioritise drug-related cases, ensure swift prosecution of traffickers and distributors, and explore alternative sentencing models, such as mandatory rehabilitation, for non-violent, substance-dependent offenders, in line with international best practices.
Additionally, they called on the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Welfare to significantly expand access to evidence-based drug treatment, mental health support, and community reintegration programs, recognising addiction as a public health issue, not merely a criminal one, adding that educational institutions, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and civil society to amplify public awareness campaigns, promote youth resilience, and foster community-based prevention initiatives.
The SLBA has reaffirmed that the right to life, health, dignity, and security, enshrined in Chapter III of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, is being gravely undermined by this crisis. Inaction is no longer tenable, adding, “We urge all relevant stakeholders to rise above bureaucracy, political indifference, and institutional silos. The future of our youth and, indeed, the stability and prosperity of our nation depend on decisive, coordinated, and compassionate action now”.
